Full Breakdown
Israeli Airstrike Targets Hamas Deputy, Kills Christian Mother and Daughter in Gaza City
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Airstrike on Gaza Apartment Targets Hamas Deputy
On October 3, 2026, an Israeli airstrike hit an apartment building in western Gaza City. The Israeli military said the operation aimed to eliminate Ali al-Amoudi, deputy chairman of Hamas’s political bureau in Gaza. The strike destroyed the building, ignited a fire and killed at least five Palestinians, including four women. Among the dead were Maysa Abu Daoud and her daughter Mary al-Najjar, members of Gaza’s Greek Orthodox community.
Background & Context
The attack occurred during a U.S.–brokered ceasefire in effect since October 2025. Israel says Hamas continues to rearm from civilian areas; Hamas and local officials say Israeli strikes increasingly target civilians, including the Christian minority of fewer than 1,000.
Timeline
- October 3, 2026 – Israeli overnight strike; five Palestinians killed, including Maysa Abu Daoud and Mary al-Najjar.
- October 3, 2026 – Israeli military releases statement that the target was Ali al-Amoudi.
- October 3, 2026 – Witness Ahmed al-Dahdouh describes the explosions and rescue efforts.
- October 3, 2026 – Funeral held at Saint Porphyrius Church; family member Fouad al-Najjar speaks.
Data & Statistics
- Casualties in the strike: 5 dead (including 4 women) and several injured, according to Gaza’s civil-defence agency.
- Christian victims: Maysa Abu Daoud (?45) and daughter Mary al-Najjar (?20). Christians comprise about 1 % of Gaza’s >2 million population.
- Ceasefire-era toll: Gaza health officials report at least 1,400 Palestinians killed since October 2025; other outlets cite 1,445–1,446.
- Overall war toll: The Gaza Health Ministry estimates over 74,000 Palestinians killed and 175,000 injured since October 7, 2023.
Official Statements & Responses
- Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem: Expressed “deep sorrow and grief” over the killings and extended condolences to the families and Gaza’s Christian community.
- Ramzi Khoury, head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine: Called the deaths a “painful loss” for families and the church.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Today is essentially the worst day of my life. I lost my mother and my grandmother today,” — Fouad al-Najjar, witness.
- “My mother was thrown against the wall by the force of the explosion, and my grandmother was engulfed in flames after the missile hit the house,” — Fourteen-year-old Fuad.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Target outcome: Israeli officials have not confirmed whether Ali al-Amoudi was killed or injured; Hamas sources have not commented.
- Casualty counts: Reuters and the Associated Press report five deaths, while other outlets mention six or seven, reflecting divergent assessments.
Why It Matters
The strike highlights the tension between Israel’s goal of neutralizing senior Hamas operatives and the humanitarian impact on Gaza’s civilian population, including its Christian minority, and underscores the challenges of enforcing the 2025 ceasefire.